Post by GL on Dec 31, 2010 14:57:51 GMT -5
Black Metal-While 2010 wasn’t a stand-out year in the sense that there wasn’t a lot of big, must-have albums released, either through touring cycles or just not a lot of main acts releasing original material , that doesn’t mean this was a down year for the genre. On the bright side, this instead produced a nice variety of material that allowed for some upstarts or also-rans to finally have their time in the spotlight, and that’s always a great way for music to come about instead of the same-old, same-old always out there. While it won’t be as good as it was in 09, I expect this year to really have some good stuff going that’ll make it a lot of fun to watch.
10. Deiphago-Filipino Antichrist
Raw, chaotic noise is the main ingredient here, and it’s actually insanely good stuff for what they come out with. Fast as hell, this is really good and doesn’t really come close to capturing what they’re capable of, since there’s moments of melody creeping in, especially on the intros and several interludes, but really, make no mistake this one is just plain brutal and barbaric in its approach, and it’s the intensity and power behind the maelstrom that makes this disc such a charmer. From the raspy, inhuman vocals, ranging from primal screams to the eerie whispers employed at select moments atop the barrage of riffs and cacophony of drumming, these guys are going to be a force in the underground for years to come.
9. Horned Almighty-Necro Spirituals
Raw in nature but with more coherent playing and some much catchier songwriting, including some death-influenced moments that are almost found in death-’n-roll at times, that makes for a catchy and supremely impressive release. From blasting drums, caustic guitar playing and just plain good old-fashioned Black Metal screeching, aided by a fine production job that still lets it be known that people played on the disc and makes this one such a blast on repeat listens. Starts getting repetitious on the backside of the album, hence why it’s up so late, but this here really wasn’t all that bad.
8. Dimmu Borgir-Abrahadabra
In a rare instance, this one isn’t here so much for how great of an album it is but rather how disappointing it turned out. This one here is mainly upset by the rather curious decision to include far too much orchestration that both bolsters the melody lines and floods the room with too much light for such a group, and as such the songs really seem to focus on getting an arrangement that allows for such interpretations rather than flowing natural, and as a result there’s too many songs that go nowhere were it not for the orchestration, which admittedly is impressive with it’s classy-sounding sweeps and bombastic sound. There’s still enough up-tempo throttling to be a good listen, and it’s really not bad, but it could’ve been so much better had it not been from this name.
7. Sigh-Scenes from Hell
One of the most impressive bands in extreme metal, these guys are always among the top due mainly to their sense of dynamics and a rather chaotic approach to Avantgarde Black Metal. Mixing in a free-form jazz style onto Blackened Thrash makes for a normally uneasy experience, which is the cause here, but as usual they manage to make it somewhat more enjoyable than expected due to a form of writing that makes the unpredictable the norm, and that’s something to be admired. From the keyboard flourishes and odd musical choices to the chipmunk-style of vocals, they’re quite dramatic and make for some good times.
6. Woe-Quietly, Undramatically
Some of the most intense, epic-sounding Black Metal out there, this one is perhaps the top-sheer one-man project going. This is all done by one person, so it’s quite an accomplishment that it’s so impressive with full-on Thrash drumming, razor-sharp riffing and those cold, tortuous shrieks all welded together into epic song structures that allow this one to be unique out there. A few songs even come complete with clean vocals, but this one is mainly just good old Black Metal with a frenzied twist.
5. Wintersoul-Frozen Soul Apocalypse
Quite possibly Black/Thrash’s next big thing, this is one walloping good time. Some of the fastest Black Metal out there, rivaling even Marduk and Setherial at their primes, with an absolutely infectious ability to crank it into overdrive and then keep a tight throttle on the burgeoning chaos unraveled. Absolutely primo stuff here, from the unrelenting drumming, frenzied technical guitar work and a sense of doom created from the hailstorm unleashed that just makes the whole thing even more of a joy to listen to. Brutal but catchy, fast as hell but still memorable, this is the next big band in the style.
Oh, and did I mention they’re Christian as well. Could’ve sworn I did, but I’ll do it again: They’re Christian.
4. Abigail Williams-In the Absence of Light
Just like Wintersoul are Black/Thrash’s next big thing, these guys are doing the same for Symphonic Black Metal. Atmospheric without sounding cheesy, they’re much more serious about all this than normal and that makes for a much more cohesive effort and is a part of what makes this one so much fun. From the pounding drums and clanging bass to the upfront keyboards and raspy-but-still negligible vocals, this one is just catchy as hell, brutal as possible and is one of the more memorable efforts to come along in the style in a long time. Again, they’re going to be big in years to come if they keep this going.
3. Lightning Swords of Death-The Extra Dimensional Wound
About as forceful and pummeling a Black Metal band you’re going to find, this here is just insanely catchy stuff. One of the most punishing rhythm sections in the genre, truly demonic vocals, utterly bombastic drumming and a sense of extreme chaotic noise to come from the thrashing guitars, yet this one never forgets to occasionally partake in some melodic moments that make it all the more explosive when they dare to go in that direction. When the group really lets go and lets this one go balls-out, it’s just bludgeoning and destroys everything in its wake, and this is all good times no matter how it’s played.
2. Melechesh-The Epigenesis
Quite possibly the most interesting band around outside of Sigh, mostly because they’re so inventive and original at what they do while sticking within the norm. Rightfully tagged Sumerian Blackened Thrash, that’s a perfect metaphor for what the band does, play breakneck Thrash Metal with Black Metal vocals and instruments that give off a Middle-Eastern vibe and flavor, sounding as unique as it is catchy. Never as dark and foreboding as the rest of the acts in here, this is just pure catchiness from start to finish and just makes the album a pure blast to listen to. Plus, it’s pretty easy to see the dominant force in each song, as the shorter stuff tends to favor the Thrash while the more epic-length stuff allows for the Middle East flavorings to come through with greater ease. One of the best bands on the planet right now.
1. Dark Fortress-Ylem
Two years ago, this band barely missed out on claiming the top spot with their magnificent opus Eidolon, which would’ve been number one most other years but came out at number two. Now, while I’m not handing them the award this year as a consolation prize, it was earned more from their exceptional work here in generating an album of Melodic Black Metal of such a high caliber that it would’ve been theirs anyway. Filled to the brim with forceful, in-your-face guitars, pounding drums, a fine selection of keyboard-augmented moments for extra atmosphere and mood and an outstanding vocal performance matched by a superb production-job that makes the collection of songs as impressive as they dynamic, forceful and all-around memorable, this is just an all-around assault of competent melodic Black Metal. This here is a band at their peak craft-wise, and it’s great to see that happen.
10. Deiphago-Filipino Antichrist
Raw, chaotic noise is the main ingredient here, and it’s actually insanely good stuff for what they come out with. Fast as hell, this is really good and doesn’t really come close to capturing what they’re capable of, since there’s moments of melody creeping in, especially on the intros and several interludes, but really, make no mistake this one is just plain brutal and barbaric in its approach, and it’s the intensity and power behind the maelstrom that makes this disc such a charmer. From the raspy, inhuman vocals, ranging from primal screams to the eerie whispers employed at select moments atop the barrage of riffs and cacophony of drumming, these guys are going to be a force in the underground for years to come.
9. Horned Almighty-Necro Spirituals
Raw in nature but with more coherent playing and some much catchier songwriting, including some death-influenced moments that are almost found in death-’n-roll at times, that makes for a catchy and supremely impressive release. From blasting drums, caustic guitar playing and just plain good old-fashioned Black Metal screeching, aided by a fine production job that still lets it be known that people played on the disc and makes this one such a blast on repeat listens. Starts getting repetitious on the backside of the album, hence why it’s up so late, but this here really wasn’t all that bad.
8. Dimmu Borgir-Abrahadabra
In a rare instance, this one isn’t here so much for how great of an album it is but rather how disappointing it turned out. This one here is mainly upset by the rather curious decision to include far too much orchestration that both bolsters the melody lines and floods the room with too much light for such a group, and as such the songs really seem to focus on getting an arrangement that allows for such interpretations rather than flowing natural, and as a result there’s too many songs that go nowhere were it not for the orchestration, which admittedly is impressive with it’s classy-sounding sweeps and bombastic sound. There’s still enough up-tempo throttling to be a good listen, and it’s really not bad, but it could’ve been so much better had it not been from this name.
7. Sigh-Scenes from Hell
One of the most impressive bands in extreme metal, these guys are always among the top due mainly to their sense of dynamics and a rather chaotic approach to Avantgarde Black Metal. Mixing in a free-form jazz style onto Blackened Thrash makes for a normally uneasy experience, which is the cause here, but as usual they manage to make it somewhat more enjoyable than expected due to a form of writing that makes the unpredictable the norm, and that’s something to be admired. From the keyboard flourishes and odd musical choices to the chipmunk-style of vocals, they’re quite dramatic and make for some good times.
6. Woe-Quietly, Undramatically
Some of the most intense, epic-sounding Black Metal out there, this one is perhaps the top-sheer one-man project going. This is all done by one person, so it’s quite an accomplishment that it’s so impressive with full-on Thrash drumming, razor-sharp riffing and those cold, tortuous shrieks all welded together into epic song structures that allow this one to be unique out there. A few songs even come complete with clean vocals, but this one is mainly just good old Black Metal with a frenzied twist.
5. Wintersoul-Frozen Soul Apocalypse
Quite possibly Black/Thrash’s next big thing, this is one walloping good time. Some of the fastest Black Metal out there, rivaling even Marduk and Setherial at their primes, with an absolutely infectious ability to crank it into overdrive and then keep a tight throttle on the burgeoning chaos unraveled. Absolutely primo stuff here, from the unrelenting drumming, frenzied technical guitar work and a sense of doom created from the hailstorm unleashed that just makes the whole thing even more of a joy to listen to. Brutal but catchy, fast as hell but still memorable, this is the next big band in the style.
Oh, and did I mention they’re Christian as well. Could’ve sworn I did, but I’ll do it again: They’re Christian.
4. Abigail Williams-In the Absence of Light
Just like Wintersoul are Black/Thrash’s next big thing, these guys are doing the same for Symphonic Black Metal. Atmospheric without sounding cheesy, they’re much more serious about all this than normal and that makes for a much more cohesive effort and is a part of what makes this one so much fun. From the pounding drums and clanging bass to the upfront keyboards and raspy-but-still negligible vocals, this one is just catchy as hell, brutal as possible and is one of the more memorable efforts to come along in the style in a long time. Again, they’re going to be big in years to come if they keep this going.
3. Lightning Swords of Death-The Extra Dimensional Wound
About as forceful and pummeling a Black Metal band you’re going to find, this here is just insanely catchy stuff. One of the most punishing rhythm sections in the genre, truly demonic vocals, utterly bombastic drumming and a sense of extreme chaotic noise to come from the thrashing guitars, yet this one never forgets to occasionally partake in some melodic moments that make it all the more explosive when they dare to go in that direction. When the group really lets go and lets this one go balls-out, it’s just bludgeoning and destroys everything in its wake, and this is all good times no matter how it’s played.
2. Melechesh-The Epigenesis
Quite possibly the most interesting band around outside of Sigh, mostly because they’re so inventive and original at what they do while sticking within the norm. Rightfully tagged Sumerian Blackened Thrash, that’s a perfect metaphor for what the band does, play breakneck Thrash Metal with Black Metal vocals and instruments that give off a Middle-Eastern vibe and flavor, sounding as unique as it is catchy. Never as dark and foreboding as the rest of the acts in here, this is just pure catchiness from start to finish and just makes the album a pure blast to listen to. Plus, it’s pretty easy to see the dominant force in each song, as the shorter stuff tends to favor the Thrash while the more epic-length stuff allows for the Middle East flavorings to come through with greater ease. One of the best bands on the planet right now.
1. Dark Fortress-Ylem
Two years ago, this band barely missed out on claiming the top spot with their magnificent opus Eidolon, which would’ve been number one most other years but came out at number two. Now, while I’m not handing them the award this year as a consolation prize, it was earned more from their exceptional work here in generating an album of Melodic Black Metal of such a high caliber that it would’ve been theirs anyway. Filled to the brim with forceful, in-your-face guitars, pounding drums, a fine selection of keyboard-augmented moments for extra atmosphere and mood and an outstanding vocal performance matched by a superb production-job that makes the collection of songs as impressive as they dynamic, forceful and all-around memorable, this is just an all-around assault of competent melodic Black Metal. This here is a band at their peak craft-wise, and it’s great to see that happen.